Vatican Hosts Event on AI Risks and Opportunities for Children

The Vatican is set to host a significant event titled "Risks and Opportunities of AI for Children: A Common Commitment for Safeguarding Children" on March 21-22, 2025. Organized by the Pontifical Academy of Sciences in collaboration with the World Childhood Foundation and the Institute of Anthropology at the Pontifical Gregorian University, this conference aims to address the ethical implications of AI on children's lives.

The event brings together prominent figures such as Cardinal Peter Turkson, Professor Joachim von Braun, and Her Majesty Queen Silvia of Sweden to discuss the dual role of AI in children's lives. It highlights both the benefits and risks associated with AI, including its potential to enhance education and its misuse in child exploitation.

Key Objectives

• Ethical Considerations: The conference emphasizes the need for ethical oversight in AI development, ensuring that AI serves humanity without diminishing human value.
• Regulatory Frameworks: It calls for stronger government regulations to protect children's safety, privacy, and dignity in the digital age.
• Collaborative Approach: The event advocates for a collective effort to prevent AI from being controlled solely by private entities, promoting a more inclusive and responsible use of technology.

Featured Sessions

• AI and Children's Safety: Discussions will focus on AI's impact on children's cognitive, emotional, and social development, as well as its role in preventing child sexual abuse.
• Policy and Innovation: Experts will present insights on AI research and its implications for policy-making and child protection.
• Youth Perspectives: The event includes contributions from young scholars and researchers, offering a fresh perspective on AI's effects on youth development.
• 
  This event follows the Vatican's recent document, "Antiqua et Nova," which explores the potential and risks of AI across various sectors, including education and warfare. The document warns about AI's capacity to exacerbate conflicts and emphasizes the need for moral and ethical considerations in its development.

The Vatican's initiative underscores the growing concern about AI's impact on vulnerable populations, particularly children, and highlights the importance of ethical governance in technological advancements.